As the representative for the MTA, the nation’s second-largest transit agency, Litvak wants to get Angelenos thinking about public transportation.“It’s my job to take Metro’s messages out to the public—new and current bus and rail projects—and listen to what the public is saying. I bring that response back to the agency.”

She’ll talk your ear off about the Purple Line extension.“It’s going to serve some of the most iconic areas: Miracle Mile, Beverly Hills, Century City, Westwood. These are also some of our region’s most congested destinations, with thousands of people traveling to the Westside every day for work, school, and appointments.”

Most everyone is on board except Beverly Hills, which filed a lawsuit to stop the Purple Line tunnel from going under the city’s high school.“I believe the vast majority of Beverly Hills residents support it, even with the disagreement over the tunnel alignment connecting to Century City. We look forward to working with the city as we build the two Beverly Hills stations.”

Litvak envisions a future where you can zip by train from USC to UCLA in less than half an hour.“People will be able to travel between downtown and Westwood in 25 minutes—all day, every day. This is a realization of a dream Angelenos have had for a half century.”

Until then, she’s doing her best to make sure you know Metro won’t ruin your life.“Our construction trucks are not going to go down residential streets. They’ll be moving on major thoroughfares. Tunneling occurs underground, so in between stations there shouldn’t be much going on.”